A Small Town Girl Exploring the World

Freedom Friday: Emancipation Day Weekend

Hey Good People!

How is everything going?

I must admit, I have had a great week. And it all started out at the White House! I had the honor and privilege to volunteer at the White House Easter Egg Roll. We worked really hard and it was truly worth it.

Initially, I was assigned to the Press Team, but when my shift started, the First Family had already made their appearance, so the press was pretty much gone. So I was promptly moved to the Jump Team. And let me tell you, that is exactly what we did! 🙂 Wherever we were needed, we jumped to it. We looked for kids separated from parents to manning activities to being a human barricade during concert performances. However, my favorite assignment was detail to Malia and Sasha Obama. The First Daughters and their guests made an afternoon appearance to see Janelle Monae perform. Glad to see the First Daughters and I have some similar musical tastes. 🙂 My group had to stand between the First Daughters and the crowd. I was right there with them! It was cool to see them laughing, having fun and enjoying Janelle Monae’s performance. If anything, it made me realize that they are just like the rest of us except that their father is the leader of the Free World. 🙂

Next, the Jump Team followed the First Daughters and their friends to the obstacle course for some friendly competition. Again. It was nice to see how well-adjusted they are to people gawking at them. Malia was very friendly and gracious ny waving at attendees who said “hi” to her.

I met a lot of dedicated volunteers at the event. Some of them have volunteered for over 20 years! They talked about how this event means so much to attendees. People come from across the country to attend the White House Easter Egg Roll, and will remember this event for the rest of their lives. It also was interesting to find out that the Obama administration truly has opened this event to more people. At one point, the event was more exclusive for Congressional members, staff and friends. Now, the White House Easter Egg Roll hosts up to 3o,000 people starting at 7:30am and ending at 7:30PM. And there were several activities: an egg hunt, egg dying, arts and crafts, story time, cooking demonstrations, musical performances, yoga, and the egg roll. And the White House staff did a great job at hosting an amazing and memorable event. Shout out to our leader, Tess! I would encourage every parent to submit their name into the lottery to attend this event because it is truly worth it.

So from the Easter Egg Roll to Emancipation wDay weekend, there are so many great events going on just in time for a very warm weekend.

Also, be on the look out for the next ThatKellieGirl webisode! It’s guaranteed to get the body moving. 🙂 Have fun and be safe out there.

Peace and Blessings, ThatKellieGirl

Filmfest DC kicked off this week. The Filmfest DC program includes a global range of cultures, music, and politics, representing cinema from over 30 countries. There are opening and closing night events, discussions with directors, movie premieres and free programs for children and senior citizens.

THEARC Theater presents an evening with jazz vocalist, Akua Allrich, who has exploded onto the jazz scene and gained international attention with her ever-evolving, fluid musical style. Having deep musical roots in blues, soul, and rhythm and blues, she is likened to legendary artists such as Oscar Brown, Jr., Miriam Makeba and Nina Simone. Don’t miss this special performance!

Shemekia Copeland’s passion for singing, matched with her huge, blast-furnace voice, gives her music a timeless power and a heart-pounding urgency. Her music comes from deep within her soul and from the streets where she grew up, surrounded by the everyday sounds of the city – street performers, gospel singers, blasting radios, bands in local parks and so much more.

LUMEN8Anacostia will inaugurate a series of creative spaces in Historic Anacostia from noon to midnight this Saturday. The corridor will come alive with illuminated storefronts, landmarks and murals. Creative spaces from Good Hope Road up Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue will showcase the works of local fine artists, artisans and creative entrepreneurs. The festival will include performances by visual artists, dancers and actors throughout the day and into the night. While April 14 is the inaugural opening of many of the Arts and Culture Temporiums, many of these storefronts will continue to operate through May and June.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is this weekend. The parade combines wonderful entertainment for the whole family including decorated floats, gigantic colorful helium balloons, marching bands, clowns, horses, antique cars, military and celebrity performances, the National Cherry Blossom Festival® All-Star Youth Tap Dance Team and Choir, and various cultural performing groups.

D.C. Love Locs Natural Hair Expo is a community event that is held yearly. This Family affair is to celebrate Natural Hair all in the good company of Natural Hair wearers from all over the D.C. Area. D.C. Love Locs Expo, showcase educational workshops on “how to styles”, Food provided by the best caterers, Fabulous fashion/hair shows, shopping and plenty of networking.

Centric, in partnership with the Office of Cable Television, celebrates the freeing of slaves in Washington, DC with the DC Emancipation Day 150th Anniversary Great Debate. Nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln freed the… enslaved workers and laborers of DC making them the first freed by the federal government.

Blanchard has established himself as one of the most influential jazz musicians and film score masters of his generation, a member of a jazz legacy that has shaped the contours of modern jazz today. With more than 29 albums to his credit, as a musician Blanchard is a multi-Grammy Award winner and nominee.

The Old School Hang Suite…” Volume 1 – A new monthly old school party, the first Saturday of every month at various hotels in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. This event will feature music from the 80’s & 90’s, special guest old school DJ’s, live performances by old school national recording artists & more! This event is hosted by 96.3 WHUR, and caters to mature professionals in the Washington, DC area.